Lighter construction



Ap 27, 1965 R. L. BURCHETT E AL LIGHTER CONSTRUCTIdN 2 Sheets-She et 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1963 ll/l/ IUJ INVENTORS PAY L: BURCHETT KURT 5 PEG 1 m aaw ATTORN EY5 United States Patent 0 M 3,189,116 LIGHTER CONSTRUCTION Ray L. Burchett, East Grange, and Kurt Speck, Palisades Park, NJ, assignors to .iacques Kreisler Manufacturing florporation, North Bergen, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Ian. 17, 1953, Ser. No. 252,169 4 Claims. (Ci. 67-7.!)

Our invention relates to a lighter construction and more particularly to an improved lighter construction which is more readily assembled and disassembled than are lighter constructions of the prior art.

There are known in the prior art devices for lighting cigars and cigarettes in which in response to operation of an actuating mechanism an abrasive wheel strikes a shower of sparks to ignite fuel to produce a flame. The fuel employed may be liquid fuel such as naphtha contained in a reservoir and carried by a wick to a position at which it can be ignited by the sparks. Alternatively, it can be gas which is released through a valve adjacent the shower of sparks upon operation of the actuating mechanism.

One type of actuating mechanism employed with both gas-fueled and liquid-fueled lighters comprises a thumbpiece adapted to be moved against the action of a spring to rotate the flint wheel and to permit the shower of sparks to ignite the fuel. This thumbpiece, as well as the flint wheel and associated mechanism are carried by a frame which either is secured directly to the liquid fuel tank or is secured to a support carried by the gas tank. In either case in the prior art rivets are employed permanently to attach the actuating mechanism frame to the assembly.

The operation of riveting the actuating mechanism support frame to lighter assemblies of the prior art is a relatively diificult operation. Not only is this true but once it has been accomplished the parts cannot be disassembled without such damage thereto as to render them unusable. Consequently, in lighter constructions of the prior art in the event that parts of the actuating mechanism become damaged, it may render the entire assembly useless so that the entire lighter must be discarded.

We have invented an improved lighter construction which overcomes the defects of lighter constructions of the prior art. The actuating mechanism of our improved lighter construction can be assembled in a rapid and expeditious manner. Our improved lighter construction permits the parts of the actuating mechanism to be readily disassembled Without damage to any of the parts. Our lighter construction facilitates the repair of the lighter. We so construct the actuating mechanism that all parts are maintained in the desired relative positions with a high degree of accuracy.

One object of our invention is to provide an improved lighter construction which permits the parts of the actuating mechanism to be assembled in a rapid and expeditious manner.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved lighter construction in which the actuating mechanism is more rugged than are actuating mechanisms constructed in the manner known in the art.

A further object of our invention is to provide an improved lighter construction which permits the parts of the actuating mechanism to be disassembled without damage to any of the parts thereof.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved lighter construction which can be repaired with relative ease.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an improved lighter construction in which the parts of the operating mechanism are maintained in their relative positions with a high degree of accuracy.

3,18%,1 id Fatented Apr. 27, 1965 Other and further objects of our invention will appear from the following description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of an improved lighter construction in which the supporting structure for the operating mechanism includes a bearing frame and a mounting block which are .removably secured to the assembly in such manner as to facilitate the assembly of the lighter while permitting the parts to be disassembled without damage to any of the parts.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of one form of our improved lighter construction.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view with some parts removed and with other parts in section of our improved lighter construction.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating a detail of the construction of our improved lighter construction.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of our improved lighter construction. 7

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an alternate form of our improved lighter construction.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings, we have shown a form of our improved lighter construction as applied to a lighter using ordinary liquid fuel. This lighter indicated generally by the reference character It? includes a fuel tank 12 having a top 14 and an open bottom which is normally closed by a removable bottom 16 which frictionally fits into the open end of the tank 12. The bottom 16 has an opening 18 therein through which the lighter can be filled with fuel; As is known in the art, the tank 12 is provided with cotton or like material for retaining the fuel in the tank. The portion of the tank 12 below the top 14 normally is covered by a decorative shell 20 which frictionally fits over the tank 12. Shell 20 also prevents evaporation of fuel through opening 18.

We secure a wick guide 22 in an opening 24 in the top 14 of the tank 12- by any suitable means such, for example, as by a collar 26 welded or brazed to the underside of the top 14. Guide 22 receives a wick 28.

The lighter includes a flint-feeding assembly indicated generally by the reference character 3% comprising an actuator 32 accessible when the outer shell 29 is removed from the tank 12. We assemble the thumbpiece 32 and a spring actuator 34 in an opening 36 in the bottom 16 by means of a snap ring 38. A retainer 40 secured in an annular boss 42 formed in the bottom 16 holds the assembly in position. We provide the actuator 32 with a flared inner end 44 which receives a reduced diameter portion 46 of the hint feeder driving spring 48. The coils of the reduced diameter portion 46 surrounding the flared end 44 engage in grooves 5d formed inside the actuator 34. Spring 48 extends upwardly through a flint tube 52. Tube 52 houses a feeder 54 having flutes 56 disposed between adjacent turns of spring 48. We form the feeder 54 and the inside of the tube 52 with such cross-sectional shapes as prevent relative rotation therebetween. Thus when the actuator 32 is turned, it turns the spring 48 to move the traveler 5d axially of the tube 52. A sealing ring 58 prevents the flow of fuel into the interior of the flint tube 52.

The flint-feeding mechanism just described does not per se form a part of our invention. A feeding mechanism of this type is illustrated in more detail in the copending application of Ray L. Burchett, Serial No. 183,521 filed'March 29, 1962 for a Flint Feeding Mechanism for Lighters.

The mounting assembly for the actuating mechanism of our lighter to be described hereinafter comprises a U-shaped frame having a base 60 and respective sides 62 and 64. In the prior art the practice has been to rivet this frame to the top 14 of the tank 12 firmly to hold the frame in place. This arrangement prevents the ready disassembly of the lighter to permit repairs in the event that parts become damaged. In our construction the base 60 rests on the top 14 of the tank 12. We provide the base 60 with respective holes 66 and 68 which register with holes 70 and 72 in the top 14 when the frame is correctly positioned on the top 14. We form the base 60 with a third opening 74 for receiving the 1ink-pivotforming means to be described hereinafter.

A die cast mounting block 76 resting on the base 60 between the walls 62 and 64 is integrally formed with a flint tube receiving stud 78 having a bore 80 providing a guide for the flint 82. We also form the block 76 with a stud 84 which permits the block 76 and the frame to be securely mounted on the top 14 of the tank 12. Stud 78 extends through the registering openings 66 and 70 while stud 84 extends through the registering openings 68 and 72 accurately to locate the block 76 on the base 60. It will readily be appreciated that we provide a relatively close fit between the studs and their associated openings. end 86 adapted to register with the opening 74 to form a pivot for the actuator link to be described hereinafter.

The operating mechanism of the form of our lighter shown in FIGURE 1 includes a thumbpiece 88 con nected by a die cast link 90 to the block 76. We form the lower end of the link 90 with an opening 92 providing a pivot pin 94 which is slipped under the hook 86 on the block 76 as the block is assembled over the base 60. We form the other end of the link 90 with an opening 96for receiving a pivot pin 98 which passes through both walls of the thumbpiece 88 and which is screwed into one wall thereof. The link 90 carries a hook 100 at a point intermediate its length for receiving one end of a spring 102,.the other end of which is hooked over a lug 104 on the block 76. The sides 62 and 64 of the frame carry respective extensions 106 which receive a'bushing 108 carrying the abrasive wheel 110 of the lighter. A screw 112 passing through the bushing 108 secures the snuifer carrier 114 to the frame. A rivet or the like 116 secures the snutfer 118 to the carrier 114. Respective screws 120 passing through ears 122 on the thumbpiece 88 pivotally connect the thumbpiece to the snuffer carrier 114.

From the structure thus far described it will be seen that spring 102 normally urges the parts to a position at which the shutter 118 rests on the wick guide 22. Now

when the thumbpiece is depressed link 90 rotates in a clockwise direction against the action of spring 102 and the connection provided by screws 120 causes the carrier 114 to rotate in a clockwise direction to move the snuffer 118 away from the wick 28. At the same time as is known in the art, a pawl (not shown) rotates the wheel 110 to strike a shower of sparks from the flint 82 toward the wick 28 to ignite the fuel. The upper edge 126 of lug 104 forms'a stop for limiting the movement of the carrier 114 when the lighter is operated. This prevents undue We also provide the block 76 with a hooked strain on the mechanism and avoids scarring of the top of the carrier.

In the assembled position of the parts the block 76 is disposed on the base 60 with the stud 78 extending through the registering openings 66 and and with the stud 84 extending through registering openings 68 and 72. We weld or braze a collar 128 to the top of the tube 52 and screw this collar on to the stud 78 so that the opening is adapted to receive the flint 82 being fed upwardly by the follower 54. We thread a nut 130 tightly on to the stud 84 firmly to hold block 76 and the base 60 of the frame in position on the top 14 of the tank 12.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 we have shown a form of our invention as applied to a gas-fueled lighter having a gas tank formed from upper and lower members 132 and 134 assembled to provide a gas-tight tank. A tube 136 welded or otherwise secured to the tank provides an opening through which the flint tube 52 can be extended. In this form of our invention a support 138 has a skirt 149, part of 'which'is shown in FIGURE 5, adapted to be slipped over the ends of the tank either frictionally or by other combined means to hold said tank in semi-permanent register. Support 138 is provided with openings, one of which 144 registers with the opening 66 in the base plate 62 of the operating mechanism.

In assembling the form of our improved lighter construction illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, we place the frame base 69 on the top 14 of the tank 12 with the base openings 66 and 68 registering with openings 70 and 72 in the top 14. We next slip one end of spring 102 over the hook or lug 184 and slip the other end of spring 102 over the lug 100. We place the pin 94 in the socket formed by hooklike end 86 of block 76. When this has been done we place block 76 over the base 60 with the lug or flint guide 78 passing downwardly through registering openings 66 and 70 and with lug 84 passing downwardly through the registering openings 68 and 72. In the course of this operation, the hooklike end 86 fits into the opening 74 in the base 60.

With the parts held in the position described above, We thread the nut 130 onto the stud 84 by use of a suitable socket wrench or the like. We then thread the collar 128 carried by the tube 52 on the external threads of the flint guide 78. If desired the walls of tube 52 may be provided with slots at the lower end thereof to facilitate performance of this operation with a screwdriver or the like. When the above operations have been accomplished, block 76 and the base 60 aresecurely held to the top 14 of the tank.

We next connect the thumbpiece 88 to the snuffer carrier 114 by means of the screws 120. This sub-assembly then is secured to the link by means of the screw 98. Next the flint wheel and the bushing 108 are inserted into the bearing openings of the frame walls 62 and 64, the snuffer carrier sides 114 .are slipped down over the bushing and screw 112 is threaded into place to complete the assembly of the actuating mechanism. Next, the removable bottom 16 and the flint-feeding assembly carried thereby are placed in position and the shell 20 is slipped over the tank.

Now should it become desirable or necessary to disassemble the parts, the procedure outlined above can be carried out in reverse order to permit disassembly of all the parts without damage thereto.

The assembly of the form of our improved lighter construction illustrated in FIGURE 4 is substantially the same as that pointed out hereinabove in connection with the form of lighter shown in FIGURE 1 with the exception that the operating mechanism is assembled on the support 138 rather than directly on top of the tank.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention. We have provided an improved lighter construction with overcomes the defects of lighter assemblies of the prior art. Our lighter is readily assembled. The actuating mechanism of our lighter assembly can be disassembled without damage to any of the parts thereof. Thus repair or replacement of parts is greatly facilitated. Our construction is more rugged than are assemblies of the prior art.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a lighter assembly, a support having a pair of spaced openings therein, a flint Wheel carried by said support, said flint Wheel being disposed over one of said openings, a unitary mounting block comprising a base, a hollow threaded stud integral With said base extending through said one opening, said hollow stud forming a flint guide, a second stud integral withsaid base extending through the other opening in said support and elements threaded onto said studs for securing said block to said support.

2. In a lighter assembly, a support having a pair of spaced openings therein, a flint Wheel carried by said support, said flint wheel being disposed over one of said openings, a unitary mounting block comprising a base, a hollow threaded stud integral With said base extending from the underside thereof through said one opening, said hollow stud forming a flint guide, a second stud integral with said base extending from the underside thereof through the other opening in said support, elements threaded onto said studs for securing said block to said support and a spring-receiving hook integral with said base and extending upwardly therefrom at a location between said studs on the upper side of said base.

3. In a lighter assembly, a support having a pair of spaced openings therein, a flint Wheel carried by said support, said flint Wheel being disposed over one of said openings, a unitary mounting block comprising a base, a hollow threaded stud integral With said base extending from the underside thereof through said one opening, said hollow stud forming a flint guide, a second stud integral with said base extending frornthe underside thereof through the other opening in said support, elements threaded onto said studs for securing said block to said support, a springreeeiving hook integral with said base and extending upwardly therefrom at a location between said studs on the upper side of said base and a link-receiving journal formed integrally with said base.

4. In a lighter assembly, a support having a pair of spaced openings therein, a flint Wheel carried by said support, said flint Wheel being disposed over one of said openings, a unitary mounting block comprising a base, a hollow threaded stud integral with said base extending from the underside thereof through said one opening, said hollow stud forming a flint guide, a second stud integral with said base extending from the underside thereof through the other opening in said support, elements threaded onto said studs for securing said block to said support, a springreceiving hook integral with said base and extending upwardly therefrom at a location between said studs on the upper side of said base, a link-receiving journal formed integrally with said base, a link received by said journal and a spring-receiving hook integral with said link intermediate the ends thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,559,497 7/51 Fortin 677.1 2,594,631 4/52 Fortin 677.1 2,633,723 4/53 Peterson 677.1 2,803,122 8/57 Maltner 67-7.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 556,910 8/32 Germany.

EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A LIGHTER ASSEMBLY, A SUPPORT HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED OPENINGS THEREIN, A FLINT WHEEL CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT, SAID FLINT WHEEL BEING DISPOSED OVER ONE OF SAID OPENINGS, A UNITARY MOUNTING BLOCK COMPRISING A BASE, A HOLLOW THREADED STUD INTEGRAL WITH SAID BASE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ONE OPENING, SAID HOLLOW STUD FORMING A FLINT GUIDE, A SECOND STUD INTEGRAL WITH SAID BASE EXTENDING THROUGH THE OTHER OPENING IN SAID SUPPORT AND ELEMENTS THREADED ONTO SAID STUDS FOR SECURING SAID BLOCK TO SAID SUPPORT. 